Penstock.



PATENTED JAN. 15, 190 7. W. G. FARGO.

PEN STOGK,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1906.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS co" wasunvzrou. n. c

W. G. FARGO. PENSTOOK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20/1906.

PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rm: uomals PETERS 60.. wnsynvamu. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

l/VILIJIAM (i. FARGO, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

PENSTOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Application filed February 20, 1906. Serial No. 302,143.

One object of the invention is to provide-a reinforced-concretepenstock.

Another object resides in the construction of a reinforcedconcretestructure of the stated or other variety wherein thereinforcing'elements are disposed peculiarly with re-' spect to thestructure.

A still further ob ect is to provide acon.-

crete structure embodying-such strength as to Withstand the stress ofhydrostatic pressure. tlierew thin without the employment of metallicbulkheads or the interposition of iron channel or I-beam or similarstructuralsha es.

It is still further designed to build a structure of reinforced concreteprovided with=a concrete lining so arranged as to not receive stress'dueto the hydrostatic pressure within the structure. 1

WVith the above objects, together with oth-. ers, the present inventionconsists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinaf ter morefully described, shown in theaccompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being. under stood that changesmay be-madewithin thescope of the claimswithout departing from thespirit or sacrificing; any. of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a singlepenstock, illustrating in connection therewith an intermediate basewallfor disposition beneath onewall of the penstock when said wall isforming apartition between two or more penstocks. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 illustrates amodified method of reinforcing the body wall of the penstock. Fig. 5 isaplanview of a series of penstocks coupled up withone another and withthe power-house, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken longitudinallythrough the series of penstocks.

Referring now to the accompanying draw ings, and more particularly toFigs. 1 to 3, inelusive, there is shown a penstock-stall a, comprising abottom 1, side walls 2, and a closed end 3, with its opposite end openand exposed-to :the mill-race or other stream-, these sides andtheclosedend being built suf n. ficiently high to accommodate theusual-headwater lined, the whole structurebeinglcom posed, preferably,of reinforcedconcrete, as hereinafter described. The end-3 may. becurved, as shown, or it might be catenarian, parabolic, or the like insection.

The stall a is supported-uponl thetmain dam-wall a, preferablyofconcrete, and-the columns 5, of any suitable materiahat-ther mouth ofthe tail-pit 6, there beingan opening 7 formed through the bottom 1intermediatesaid damewall and said column, in which is disposedadownwardly-flaring @discharge draft-tube'S, supported upon said base atits" minor end byi theradial flange 9. A runner or=turbinewheel 10 isarranged within the stall with relation to said draft-tube. This turbinemay bew'arranged horizontally. upon the vertical shaft 11, or it may. bedisposed vertically upon a horizontal shaft, as will be explainedhereinafter.

As is well known in this particular art, the stalls of penstocks aresubjected to consider able strain or stress, due to internal pressure,the latter being so great in a full stock as to frequently causeleakageand seepage through 1 the walls thereof. Especially is thisinternalpressure noticeable in a seriesofadj-oining. penstocks when i anadjacent penstock is empty. Attempts have been madev to overcomethisserious defect by constructing the end, side walls, and bottom ofthestructure correspondingly heavy or thick to withstand theinternal:pressure. However, it has beenfound quite'difficult to predetermine thenec essar-y body and mortar constituents for, the structure, so as v torender the same watertight and withstand the stress, particularly uponthe side and the-end walls. Aside from this disadvantage it may benecessary to limit the thickness of the wallsi It hasalso been-attemptedto build'a strong andsup stantial penstock through the instrumentalityof vertical channel-iron beams having. elongated concrete blocksinterposed therebetween, the iron beams being. connected-attheir tops,above the-upper endsof theconcrete blocks, by tier0ds. It is claimedthat this latter structure is such that thehydrostatic structure orloads-on each of thewalls beingv equal and acting in opposite directionsthe stressis upon the tie-rods, e'ifecting an equilibrium as to preservethe walls. In this structure just alluded to the side walls have beenconnected by a semicylindrical bulkhead composed wholly of metal andconnect ed either to the said iron beam or to the elongated concreteblocks. Climatic conditions affect these tie-rods, which, together withthe heavy stress thereupon and the separable bulkhead with respect tothe side walls, has resulted in more or less distortion of the saidelements with respect to one another and otherwise damaging thestructure, resulting in the latter not being always water-tight.

As the result of considerable thought and practical experience anddemonstration I have found it expedient to construct the stalls a ofreinforced concrete, the end wall, which may or may not besemicylindrical, having the hoop or bight portion 11'" of the steel orother metallic reinforcing elements 11 embedded therein, preferably nearthe outer face thereof, with the legs of said reinforcing elementsdirected backward or upstream and downwardly on an incline from theclosed end and into the foundation of the structure to firmly anchor thestall a with respect to its foundation. Thus the reinforcing elements11. have a twofold function, in that they serve to strengthen and hoopthe curved or other end of the structure and anchor the stall to thebase or foundation of masonry or other suitable material. It will thusbe seen that the end and side walls are formed, preferably, together andat the same time, thereby dispensing with separate ends or bulkheads.The side Walls' may, if desired, be reinforced in anothermanner-that is,by steel orother U-shaped reinforcing elements 12 embedded therein nearthe outer face thereof and directed upstream horizontally instead ofupon an incline. If this second form or method of reinforcing beadopted, the inclined reinlorcing elements 12 may be added and securedin any suitable manner to the legs of the elements 12 at their point ofintersection, the inclined elements 12 being directed. upstream andextending into the foundation to cooperate with the said U- shapedelements in the dual function of strengthening or hooping the closed endwall and anchoring the stall with respect to its foundation. Thismodification is shown in Fig. 4. As indicated at 13, a portion of thebottom 1 is provided with. upper and lower reinforcing elements, tendingto strengthen the front part of the structure to offset the weight orpreponderance of tension at this point. Some advantages in disposing thereinforcing elements of the penstock-walls near the outer face thereofare that the tension in the end wall in particular is the greatest atits outer face, and the remainder of the concrete constituting thethickness of this wall is better retained. and held in position with thereinforcing-rods or other elements at the outer face, where they act ina sense, at least, in the manner of the netting on a balloon. At thispoint it might be stated that under certain. conditions the penstock maybe constructed upon the netting principle that is to say, with the rods,fabric, or the like outside of the concrete. These methods of anchorageare substantial and give the penstock much stability against thedownstream pressure. i

To still further remedy the aforesaid evils of structures of thecharacter described, I associate with the end of the penstock-stall anon-reinforced concrete lining 14, made to conform to the shape of saidend and be held movably in contact with the inner face thereof and theinner faces of if desired, by the internal or hydrostatic pressurewithin the stall. This lining may have an integral or separablenon-reinforced foot 15, adapted to rest in movable contact with thebottom 1 of the penstock to protect the corner of the structure betweenthe closed end and the bottom thereof. Since the lining is not fixedlysecured to the end or bottom wall,

it retains its normal condition against the action of the hydrostaticpressure or othercon ditions as regards its porosity when the structureis under stress. The result is that thepenstock is providedwith a liningposo sessing such qualification as to preclude the possibility ofleakage or seepage at the end thereof, regardless of any slight or unduedisintegration of the structure, due principally to internal pressure.It will be understood that the internal pressure does not place thelining under great,if any, tension, by reason of the fact that thelining is free of the structure and capable of movement in differentdirections. If preferred, the lining may be reinforced, and I wish itunderstood that I contemplate this feature, it being shown in thedrawings. However, the lining will not be reinforced to a great extent,ust sufficiently to aid in rendering it more or less flexiblewithoutcausing it to lack the aforesaid qualifications, particularly asregards its porosity if placed. under a slight stress or tension. Themethod of reinforcing the lining is not material. It is designedprincipally to prevent cracks forming in the concrete, due to slighttension when the lining moves on the outer wall of the penstock. Thistension. would be caused only by the friction of the lining on its baseand outer side.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a doubleend penstock plant, includingfour penstockstalls 15, 16, 17, and 18. A shaft 19 is journaledlongitudinally through the series of adjacent stalls and connected upwith a gen erator 21, confined within a suitable housing 21. Disposedupon the shaft 19 is a series of four pairs of runners or turbine-wheels22, there being a pair of runners or turbines in each stall arrangedwith respect to a common draft-tube 2% of each stall and whichcornmunicates with the corresponding tail-pit Bl. These runners orwheels are shown disposed vertically upon a horizontal shaft, in directcontradistinction to the mounting of the turbine in Figs. 1 and 2, andit is there- 5 fore obvious that a singlestall may be provided with ahorizontal shaft with a pair'of turbine-wheels or runners mountedthereupon. Obviously three, four, or more turbines or runners may bedisposed in each stall. It might be remarked, too, that if desired thehorizontal shaft could be arranged at l a direct right angle to theshaft shown in Figs. 5 and 6, whereby it could be directed through thestalls parallel with their side walls. It is thought that since thisdisposition of the shaft will not be characteristic features of theclaims in this case, and owing particularly to the obviousness of it,illustration is deemed unnecessary.

As in the use of a single penstock, the walls of the series of penstocksare reinforced, and, if desired, the lining hereinbefore referred to maybe employed for the purposes already stated. I

In conclusion it is to be understood that a decked penstocl may beconstructed in ac- 1 cordance with the present invention and also thatthe body-walls of the structure ma y be reinforced by either ortbothmethods of reinforcing herein described, either or both methods beingsubject to slight changes, according to the scope of the appendedclaims. Further, the lining need not necessarily extend throughout thelength of the side walls of'the stall, but, if desired, may be arrangedat the closed end only.

hat is claimed is- 1. A penstock having its walls reinforced near itsouter faces, and a lining possessing flexibility covering those surfacesof the penstoclr subject to seepage.

2. A penstock comprising a stall, including a closed and open end andside walls, the verti cal walls of the stall being of concretereinforced, the reinforcing elements lying in inclined planes and hoopedthrough the closed wall of the penstock, the free ends of thereinforcing elements extending in a downward upstream direction.

3. A penstocl: comprising a stall composed of reinforced concrete, thereinforcing elel ments extending round one end of the stall. f 4. Apenstock comprising a stall composed of reinforced concrete, thereinforcing means including elements hooped through one end of thestall.

5. A penstock comprising a stall composed of reinforced concrete, thereinforcing elements strengthening the stall and anchoring it to itsfoundation.

6. A concrete penstock having its walls reinforced near their outerfaces.

7. A concrete penstock having its walls 9. A concrete penstock'comprising a stall" having one of its walls-reinforcednear its outerface, and a flexible lining for said wall, the lining being free of thewall and held in contact therewith by internal pressure.

10. A concrete penstock comprising: astall having its end and side wallsreinforced, the reinforcing elements of the side walls being directedupstream.

11. A penstock comprising a stall of reinforced concrete, and areinforced-concrete lining for the stall, the lining having areinforced-concrete foot portion for contact with the bottom of thestall.

12. A penstock comprising a stall of rein-- forced concrete, andaconcrete lining for the stall, the lininghaving a foot portion for'contact with the bottom of the stall.

13. A penstock comprising a stall of rein-' forced concrete, and areinforced-concrete lining for the stall, the lining having: areinforced-concrete foot for contact with the bottom of the stall, thelining and its foot being free to move in different directions withrespect to the stall and held in operative relation therewith byinternal pressure.

14. A penstock comprising a stall of reinforced concrete, and a concretelining: therefor, the lining having a concrete foot for contact with thebottom of the stall, the lining and its'foot being free to move indifferent directions with respect to the stall and held in operativerelation therewith by internal pressure.

15. A penstock comprising a stall of reinforced concrete, and a flexiblelining'therefor, the lining having a footforcontact with the bottom ofthe stall, the lining and'its foot being held in operative relation withrespect to the stall by internal pressure.

16. A penstock comprising a stall, and a concrete lining therefor, thelining being held in place by hydrostatic pressure.

17. A- penstock comprising a stall, and a reinforced-concrete liningheld in operative relation to the stall by hydrostatic pressure.

18. A penstock comprising a stall, and a flexible lining therefor, thelining being held in place by hydrostatic pressure.

19. A penstock comprisinga reinforcedconcrete stall, provided with adraft-opening, a shaft journaled in said stall,-turbinewheels arrangedwithinthe stall with respect to said opening, and a concrete lining forthe stall.

20. A penstock comprising a reinforcedconcrete stall a shaft journaledin the stall, turbines upon the shaft within the stall and arranged withprovided with a draft-opening,

respect to said draft-opening, and a reinforced-concrete lining for thestall.

21. A penstock comprising a stall profoundation and the lining beingmovable under stress to transfer the stress to the stall.

32. A penstock comprising a reinforcedvided with a draftopening, a shaftjournaled concrete stall, the reinforcements being diin the stall, aturbine disposed upon the shaft i rected upstream with portions embeddedin and arranged with respect to the said opening, and a lining for thestall, the lining being free of the stall and held in operative relationthereto by internal pressure. I

22. A penstock comprising a stall provided with -a draft-opening, ashaft ournaled in the stall, aturbine disposed upon the stallandarranged with respect to the said opening, and a reinforced-concretelining for the stall, the lining being free of the stall and held inoperative relation thereto by internal pressure.

23. A penstock comprising a stall provided with a draft-opening, ashaft, turbines disposed upon the shaft and arranged with respect to thesaid opening, and a reinforcedconcrete lining for the stall, the liningbeing held in place by internal pressure.

24. A penstock comprising a stall, and a lining for the stall, thelining being free of the stall and held in operative relation therewithby pressure.

25. A penstock plant comprising stalls, each provided with adraft-opening, a shaft extending through the stalls, turbines in eachstall mounted upon said shaft, the turbines of each stall being arrangedwith respect to the corresponding draft-opening, and a lining for eachstall non-adherent with respect thereto.

26. Apenstock comprising a stall composed of reinforced concrete, thereinforcing elements being hooped around one end of the stall andinclosed within the latter and its foundation to strengthen the stalland anchor it to its foundation.

27. A penstock comprising a stall composed of reinforced concrete, thereinforcing elements being inclosed within the stall and its foundationto anchor the former to the latter.

28. A penstock comprising a stall composed of reinforced concrete, thereinforcing elements being inclosed within the stall and its foundationto. anchor the former to the latter and a lining for the stallnon-adherent to the latter.

29. A penstock comprising a stall and a flexible lining therefor, thelining being movablie under stress to transfer the stress to the sta l.

30. A penstock comprising a stall and a lining therefor, the liningbeing movable under stress to transfer the stress to the stall.

31. A penstock comprising a reinforced concrete stall, and a liningtherefor, the reinforcing elements anchoring the stall to its thefoundation of the stall to strengthen and anchor the latter.

33. A penstock comprising a reinforcedconcrete stall, the reinforcementsbeing directed upstream with portions embedded in the foundation of thestall to strengthen and anchor the latter, and a non-adherent lining forthe stall.

34. A penstock comprising a stall, and a lining for the stall, thelining being non-adherent with respect to the stall and held in place byinternal pressure.

35. A penstock comprising a stall, and a lining possessing flexibilitycovering those surfaces of the stall subject to seepage.

36. A penstock comprising a concrete stall having a closed end, thereinforcing elements, being hooped through the closed end of the stalland directed upstream.

37. A penstock comprising a stall of reinforced concrete, thereinforcing elements connecting the closed end, the sides of the stalland foundation of the latter to firmly anchor the stall.

' 38. A penstock comprising a stall of reinforced concrete, thereinforcing elements being hooped through the closed end of the stalland arranged to anchor the latter, anda flexible lining for the stallnon-adherent thereto.

39. A penstock comprising a stall of reinforced concrete, thereinforcing elements being hooped through the closed end of the stalland having portions directed horizontally and upon an incline in anupstream direction to strengthen the walls of the stall and anchor thelatter upon its foundation.

40. A penstock comprising a stall and means covering those surfaces ofthe stall subject to seepage said means being free of the stall.

' 411. A penstock comprising a stall, and flexible means covering thosesurfaces of the stall subject to seepage, said means being arranged totransfer the stress to the stall only.

42. A penstock comprising a stall and means arranged with respect to thestall to prevent seepage and to transfer the stress to the stall. V

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 6th day of February,1906.

WILLIAM G. FARGO.

In presence of V NANNIE KING,

G. M. PATTERSON.

